Attachment for seeing from submarine boats



(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 1.

I. A. ABBOT. ATTACHMENT FOR SEEING FROM SUBMARINE BOATS.

No. 467,291. Patented Jan. 19,1892.

ATTORNEY.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented Jan. T9, 1892i.

` i UNITED STATES APrirmvr OFFICE.

ISAAC A. ABBOT, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ATTACHMENT FOR SEEING FROM SUBMARINE BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,291, dated January19, 1892. Application filed June 16, 1890. Renewed .Tune 18,1891l SerialNo. 396,661. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, ISAAC A. ABBOT,a citizen ofthe United States ofAmerica, residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful ImprovementsinAttachments for Seeing from Submarine Boats, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the lign res of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specication.

My invention relates to a new form and construction whereby it becomespracticable for those in a submarine boat to observe what is going onupon the surface of the water and view surrounding objects in anydirection for a radius of several miles while the boatis l0- catedbeneath the surface of the water for a sufficient distance to be out ofdanger from the enemy during war, -whereby those provided with a boatequipped with my improvenient have the advantage of watching closely andaccurately every movement of the opposing party.

My object, therefore, is to produce a device of the class mentionedwhich shall give the party equipped therewith great and supremeadvantages over the enemy, the device being at the same time of suchsimple construction that the movements of the boat to which itisattached shall not be materially retarded thereby, the device being alsoeconomical in cost, so that the expense of constructing a boat with thisvaluable equipment shall be insignificant in comparison with theadvantages afforded thereby, the device being quickly and easilyoperated, there being no special skill or knowledge required for itssuccessful management and ready manipulation, the improved apparatusbeing also reliable and durable in use and very elcient for the purposeintended.

To these ends my invention consists of the features and arrangementshereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings is illustrated an embodiment of my invention,whereinFigure 1 is a side elevation of a submarine boat provided with myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the sameenlarged. Fig. 3 isa top view, partially in `Section, illustrating aportion of the gearing for manipulating the device. Fig. e is a topView, the deck of the boat being removed for the purpose of illustratingcertain parts of the operating mechanism. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectiontaken through the top of the device and illustrating the mirror locatedwithin. Fig. 6 is a top view of a pinion and a cogged track foradjusting the mirror so that the same shall face in any desireddirection.

In the views, wherein similar reference characters indicatecorresponding parts, let the numeral 1 designate, generally, aconventional submarine boat, to the top of the deck of which is suitablysecured a stationary socket-tube 2, surrounding a suitable opening inthe top of the boat, for the reception of the exterior protection-tube3, preferably lozenge-shaped in cross-section. This tube 3 surrounds andis designed to afford a suitable guard or shield for the sight-tube 4.These tubes are suitably secured together, and are adjustable verticallyto any desired extent, being supported from below by a foundationlocated within the boat.

The adjustment of the sight-tube is accomplished by the use of suitablemechanism located within the boat and operated therefrom. As hereinshown,this mechanism consists 0f a vertical shaft 5, provided at itsupper extremity with a worm portion 6, engaging a worm-wheel 7, securedto a horizontal shaft 8, provided at each extremity with a bevelgear-wheel 9, engaging other similar wheels 10, secured to a pair of.horizontal shafts 1l, extending at right angles to shaft 8. The oppositeextremities of shafts 11 are provided with gear wheels 12, which areadapted to mesh in a suitable cogged track secured to the sides of theprotecting-tube 3. It is thus seen that as crank 13, which is adapted bymeans of gear-wheels 35 and 36 to turn shaft 5, is turned a rotarymotion is communicated to gear wheels 12 and the sight-tube thus raisedor lowered, as may be desired. i f

In order that water may not iiow into the boat in case of an accident tothe sight-tube, the following provision is made: At the upper extremityofthe socket-tube 2 is made a Valve 14, adjustable horizontally andadapted to slide in and effectually close said tube against the water.For the adjustment and control of this valve an upright shaft 15,adapted to be turned bya crank 16 and gearwheels 37 and 33, is suitablyjonrnaled and is provided at its upper extremity with a wormportion 17,adapted to engage a worm or gear wheel 1S,journaled in casingli). Thiswheel also engages a suitable cogged rack 20, secured to or madeintegral with the under surface of valve 14. This valveis provided withsuitable packing so as to prevent water from entering the tubethe'rearound. lVhen it is desired to open or close said valve, the crank16 is turned in a corresponding direction.

At the base of box 2l, which is secured to the under side of the deck ofthe boat 1, is located a valve 22 similar to valve 14, said valve beingadapted to slide horizontally and close the bottom of box 21, thusoering a double assurance of safety against accidents. The operation ofthis valve is controlled by asuitable gear-wheel 23, which is suitablyjour naled in any approved support and is adapted to take in a coggedrack 24, secured to the under side of valve 22. This gear-wheel isprovided with a crank or other means of imparting rotation thereto.

lSight-tube 4 is mounted by a suitable transparent dome 25, made,preferably, of glass. It will, however, be observed that I am notlimited to this particular shape, as transparent covers for tube 4 maybe used that will answer the purpose of the invention almost, if notquite, as Well as a dome-shaped cover. In practice it is intended toregulate the depth to which the vessel shall sink in the water so thatno part of the device except this dome shall be above the surfacethereof, and this only while taking an observation, being immediatelyafterward submerged.

Extending upward through sight-tube 4 and to one side thereof is asuitable shaft 26,

the upper extremity of which is provided with a suitable cogged wheel orpinion 27, rigidly secured thereto, said gear-wheel being adapted totake in a suitable interiorly-projecting circumferential cogged rack orgear 2S, which is rigidly secured in the upper extremity of thesighttube. The upper extremity of shaft 27 is journaled in a suitablering or annular-shaped piece 33, mounted upon friction-rollers orcasters 34, which rest upon track 3S.

Rigidly secured to and extending upward from annular-shaped piece 33 arethe standards 29, there being two in number. Said standards are locatedat points diametrically opposite on piece 33 and are provided at theirupper extremities with suitable journalboxes, into which the mirror orreflecting-surface 30 is poised by means of projections 39. Thisconstruction permits the mirror to be revolved about its horizontalaxis.

The reference-numeral 31 designates a suitable shaft, which extends upthrough sighttube 4 and to one side thereof, said. shaft being parallelto and near one of the standards 29 and suitably j ournaled inannularshaped piece The upper extremity of this shaft is provided with aworm portion 41, adapted to engage a worm-wheel 42, rigidly secured toor made integral with the projection 30, which correspoudswith thestandard 29, near which shaft 31 is located.

At the bottom of sight-tube 4 is located a mirror or reflecting-surface32, the angle being, preferably, forty-five degrees, but which may beregulated as desired by virtue of its pivotal support 43, said mirrorbeing adapted to catch the rays of light thrown down through tube 4 frommirror 30 and reflect the same, so that the pilot may be able to see andknow the state ot` affairs on the surface as definitely as if he wereabove instead of below the water.

Friction wheels or pulleys 46 (indicated in the drawing in dotted lines)are adapted to reduce the friction of sliding or raising the sight-tubeto a minimum, and are herein shown as typical of any suitableanti-frictional bearing for said tube.

lt may be well to state at this stage of the specification that tube 4,with its shield, is made in sections of such length as to permit it tobe easily manipulated in the limited space alforded in boats of thisclass, said parts being united at 47 by any suitable means, as by aninterrupt-ed screw. This construction permits the sight-tube to be runup while the boat is under the water.

lf further protection against accidents may be deemed desirable,transparent partitions may be located in sight-tube 4 atsuitableintervals, these partitions being made so as to render the tubewater-tight, while the mirror 30, with its connected parts, may becontrolled and regulated by means of a suitable electrical apparatus,while suitable electrical conductors may be passed through saidpartitions.

The operation of my improved device as herein disclosed will bethoroughly understood by reference to the accompanying draw ings, and isas follows: Vhen it is desired to erect sight-tube 4, the parts aresecured together in the boat, and as thus joined are elevated by turningcrank 13,thepinions 12 working in suitable cogged racks secured to theside of said tube. It will also be seen that a rotary mot-ion impartedto shaft 26 causes cogged pinion 27 to take in cogged rack 28, and thuscause annular piece 33, with the mechanism supported thereon, torevolve, thereby bringing different quarters of the field in view, whilea rotary motion imparted to shaft 31 causes worm portion 41 to take inwormwheel 42, and thus causing mirror 30 to assume any desired anglewith reference to the vertical plane.

Having thus described my invention, what. I claim is- 1. Thecombination, with a submarine boat, of a vertical water-tight adjustabletube hav IOO IIO

ing its base located within the boat, said tube being providedat the topwith a transparent portion within which is located a suitable mirror orreiiecting-surface, another mirror or reflecting-surface locateddirectly below and within the boat, the sight-tube being provided withan outer protecting-wall, preferably lozenge-shaped in cross-section,and suitable means located within the boat for adj ust-ing thesight-tube vertically, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination,with a submarine torpedo-boat, of a verticalwater-tight tube or conduit consisting of sections united by tightjoints, but readily disconnected, said tube being provided with an outerprotecting-wall of suitable shape composed of sections correspondingwith 'those of the sight-conduit proper, the upper portion of the tubebeing transparent and provided with a mirror located directly beneathand within the boat, the lower mirror being adapted to catch the rays oflight reflected through the sight-tube from the mirror above, andsuitable means for adjusting the sight-conduit, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The combination,with a submarine torpedo-boat, of a water-tight sighttube or conduit having its base located within the boat, said conduitbeing provided with an outer protecting-wall of a shape adapted toreduce the resistance to a minimum, the lower portion of the outer wallbeing surrounded by a socket-tube secured to the boat audprovided withantifrictional devices engaging the outer wall of the sight-tube,suitable means located within the boat for adjusting the sight-conduitvertically, and adjustable mirrors located within the tube and boat,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

t. The combination, with a submarine boat, of a vertical water-tightsight conduit or tube having its base located within the boat, the upperportion of the tube being transparent, preferably dome-shaped, andprovided with a mirror located therein, another mirror located in theboat directly beneath the upper mirror, the sight-conduit being made ofany desired strength and shape with a view to reducing the resistancetoa minimum, asoclrettube secured to the boat and surrounding the lowerportion of the sight-tube,andasuitable valve located at the top of thesocket-tube and adapted to be closed for the purpose of shutting out thewater in case 0f an accident to the sight-tube above, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination,with a submarine boat, of a vertical water-tightsight-tube having its base located within the boat and provided with katransparent upper `portion Within which is located a mirror, anothermirror located in the boat directly below the upper mirror, means foradjusting the sight-tube vertically, said means being located within theboat, and a valve located Within the boat and adapted to close thebottom of the sighttube and prevent the water from entering the boat incase of accident to the tube above the boat, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my si gnature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC A. ABBOT.

Witnesses: v

IsHAM R. HOWZE, WM. MOCONNELL.

